UN suspends Gaza food aid again

On Monday food aid distribution in Gaza will be suspended because of a lack of fuel caused by the Israeli blockade. The announcement was made on Sunday.

A spokesman said on Sunday that the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees will suspend its food aid distribution on Monday. The reason is because there is a lack of fuel that is being caused by the Israeli blockade.

Chris Gunness is a spokesman for the UNWRA and he says that all of the fuel has been exhausted and that is the reason they had to stop the agency's food distributions to more than 1 million inhabitants in the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian situation is terrible and this is the second time in a week that food distribution has been suspended Gunness said.

Supplies are expected to run out on Monday and that is why the suspension is going to take effect late Monday rather than from the morning as stated earlier.

Last Tuesday distribution of food continued after a previous four-day interruption that was cause by fuel shortages.

The Israeli army said that it shut down two key crossings with Gaza and hours after the announcement that UNRWA made the decision to suspend food aid.

The crossings that were closed were the Karni and Nahal Oz crossings and that is where most of the impoverished territory receives supplies such as food, medical supplies, humanitarian aid and fuel. An army spokeswoman said that the crossings will remain close until further notice.

The Nahal Oz crossing and fuel terminal were previously closed down by the Jewish state after Israeli civilians were killed when militants attacked and that caused a shortage of fuel in Gaza.

This is not good news for refugees and now they are going to suffer because of militants' actions and one has to wonder how long the crossings will remain closed.